Going Beyond

It is spring! After what seems like a very long winter, I am sure that everyone in Alberta would agree that it feels great to see the sun shinning and the snow gone!

I love the seasons, but there is something special about spring. Everything that looks dead comes alive with the warm weather. It is a season of hope, spring-cleaning (get rid of the old), and new beginnings. For me, it’s a time to go beyond the barrenness of winter and consider where I want to be a year from now. I think about my goals, my purpose, and my heart’s longings. Am I being true to myself, or am I more concerned with stuff than life? (I must say that it isn’t easy ignoring the demands of stuff in our culture.) Nonetheless, my passions always seem to bring me back to my heart’s desires. What are you passionate about? Where do you want to be in a year, five years, or ten years from now? Do you have any heart dreams that are still waiting to be accessed?

Our goals and dreams are as unique as our personalities, but have you ever wondered why some people are so driven by their dreams? Gertrude Ederle, Amelia Earhart, and Walt Disney were relentlessly driven by the dreams that were written on their heart. Their tenacity and relentless passion is called ‘grit’, and their stories are an inspiration.[1] Would you agree?

Stories about great achievements inspire us, but pursuing our heart dreams can be difficult. When we read great stories, we see success from an end point back to the beginning, but in our lives, we can only see from the beginning. We can’t see the possible results of our hard work beforehand. It is easy to map out something that has already happened, but it isn’t easy mapping out something that goes into the unknown. Considering all of the unknowns beforehand can be so intimidating and overwhelming that it can be easier to forfeit the idea altogether.

But the good news is that we can all take a step towards our heart dreams today. Instead of looking at the ‘big’ picture (and envisioning all of the risks, commitments, and hard work needed to get there), we can take one small step and start walking – one step at a time. One small step is greater than a lifetime of never trying. Every great story began with one step, and every overnight success is the result of endless small steps that refused to give up.

What are your heart dreams? If you are not sure, think about the things that you do simply because you love doing them. What activities make you happy? My photography is a heart dream. The reason for starting a studio years ago was because of my love for creative expressions through art. I can easily lose myself in the process of creating the ‘perfect’ portrait. Photography is an important part of who I am more than what I do.

But our heart dreams are not limited to creativity. They can be administrative work, mothering, gardening, engineering, teaching, or working with animals! Some people have jobs they love; these are heart dreams. Our heart dreams are the activities that we get lost in – the ones that consume us. Recent studies show that happiness is contingent on our ability to live our true self – to pursue and experience our heart dreams. In fact, happiness is minimally connected with materialism and greatly connected with authenticity. That means that if we want to be happy, we need to get in sync with our heart dreams.

Our heart dreams generate meaning and purpose, and when we pursue these activities, we experience happiness from the inside out. Our happiness is intrinsic; it doesn’t depend on feedback from others or monetary gain. That’s a great thing! But it doesn’t stop there. Happiness from the inside is stable (it doesn’t bounce all over the place like a rubber ball that isn’t perfectly round). It is also deep-seated. It goes below the mundane chores that we all do each day. That means that however difficult your chores are, they cannot snuff out the happiness that comes from living your true self. Great stuff!

So, where am I going with all of this?

Happiness is a universal desire, but so are meaning and purpose. If our dreams are the connecting point between happiness and meaning and purpose, we need to pay attention.

Do you have a dream that is waiting to being pursued? C. S. Lewis said that we are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. There is no time like today. Pursuing your dream can feel daunting at first, but the intrinsic rewards far outweigh the risks. People, who live authentically tend to be happier, live longer, have fewer regrets, and are more satisfied with life in general.[2] They feel alive! If you feel intimidated by the risks of stepping out, remember Nelson Mandela’s words: “it will always seem impossible until it’s done.” Start with one step.

Spring is about new beginnings. Where do you want to be next spring? If you have something that has been on your heart for a long time, I challenge you to pull it out. Consider it. Pray about it, and take a step towards it this year. There will never be a perfect time to start, so why not today? Life has no guarantees for our tomorrows. What is your dream? What gives you purpose? If you are not sure, think about it. To live is to dream. Dreaming makes us alive. It gives us purpose and reason beyond the mundane. People were created to live their dreams.

Janice! What an amazing write up! I love how you say just start. One step at a time! So true. This has got me all fired up to stay consistent and pursue my passions, even when it feels hard or discouraging. Thank you!! ❤️

On my bike trip across Canada, I found myself being overwhelmed by some of the long and difficult days. I quickly learned to focus on the immediate. Instead of being overwhelmed by some of 250km days through mountainous terrain, I focused on getting through each 25km segment to the next quick break. I conquered the days segment by segment (step by step). We underestimate the power of each step. Success is always the result of a willing heart and the perseverance to keep going – one step at a time. Stay focused and keep taking steps Lauren. You just never… Read more »

Excellent post Janice. Today as I was driving the beauty of the trees with brilliant green leaves really spoke to me. It seems as if it was just yesterday they were dry and bare and today they are so “alive”. Thanks for sharing Jaince, this post has stirred me up to pursue some of my own dreams.

Thanks Kadean. It has even spurred me to think about where I want to be in a year and five years from now. Time goes by so quickly, and it is so easy to get caught up in the everyday. I would love to hear about some of your dreams Kadean. Coffee pot is always on! ❤️